Affordable Housing

How do I find affordable housing?

Families who pay more than 30 percent of their income for housing may have difficulty affording necessities such as food, clothing, transportation and medical care. An estimated 12 million renter and homeowner households now pay more than 50 percent of their annual income for housing. A family with one full-time worker earning minimum wage cannot afford the local fair-market rent for a two-bedroom apartment anywhere in the United States.

The following information is for all eligible renters/homeowners. In addition to the programs below, there are housing resources for special populations. Click below to see information about these specialized programs:

Resources for Renters

Rental Counseling

Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program

This federally-funded program was created to help low-income households find safe and quality rental housing. Through this program, a part of the monthly rent is paid by the government directly to the landlord, thus reducing housing costs for eligible families.

Family Self Sufficiency Program

The Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program is a voluntary five-year program available to families now active in the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. Families receiving Section 8 enroll in the FSS program by signing a Contract of Participation. That contract includes short-term and long-term goals. Participants receive annual case management from their Section 8 caseworkers and get connected to needed services such as job training, career counseling, education, and social service programs

NC 2-1-1

You can dial 2-1-1 from any phone to reach a compassionate, trained call specialist 24/7/365 who has access to information on housing resources, such as local housing authorities, financial aid programs for home repairs, agencies that offer housing counseling, and more. 2-1-1 is also available online at nc211.org.

NC Housing Search

NC Housing Search (www.nchousingsearch.org) helps people locate available apartments, rental homes, condos, and other housing that fits individual and family needs. This service can be accessed online 24 hours a day and through a toll‐free, bilingual call center, Monday ‐ Friday, 9:00 a.m. ‐ 8:00 p.m. EDT at 1‐877‐428‐8844. NCHousingSearch.org also has helpful tools for renters such as an affordability calculator, rental checklist, and information on renter rights and responsibilities.

Rural Houses for Rent

USDA Rural Development keeps a listing of homes for rent in rural communities across the state.

Section 8 Homeownership Program

This federally-funded program is administered by the state and is designed to aid eligible households purchase a home of their own. This is achieved by applying the Housing Choice Voucher towards homeownership expenses such as principal and interest on mortgage debt, insurance, taxes and utilities rather than using it towards rental payments. This program is not available in all areas.

NC Housing Finance Agency (NCHFA)

NC Housing Finance Agency’s programs include the NC Home Advantage Mortgage™, which offers down payment assistance up to 5% of a loan amount. If you are a first-time home buyer or a military veteran, you may be eligible for a Mortgage Credit Certificate that can save you up to $2,000 on your income taxes.

NC 2-1-1

You can dial 2-1-1 from any phone to reach a compassionate, trained call specialist 24/7/365 who has access to information on housing resources, such as local housing authorities, financial aid programs for home repairs, agencies that offer housing counseling, and more. 2-1-1 is also available online at nc211.org.

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity builds or rehabilitates simple, decent houses and sells them to low-income families at cost, but with no interest added. Families with the greatest need are given priority consideration.